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MADISON - Every season, high school coaches hate to say good-bye to their seniors.

But that good-bye can be even harder if the athlete is a relative. A daughter or son, niece or nephew, granddaughter or grandson holds a special place in the coach's heart. No one will ever be able to fill that void for the coach.

That reality hit home for Stevens Point Area Senior High softball coach Tom Drohner on June 9.

It was the final game in another highly successful season for SPASH. A 3-0 loss to Kaukauna in a Division 1 state semifinal marked the end of a unique and special bond Drohner and his daughter, Aubrey.

Coach Drohner got noticeably choked up when asked after that game what it meant to coach his daughter the past four seasons.

"There was a whole lot of hugging going on and me telling her I love her," said coach Drohner of the emotions he shared with his daughter after the final out was recorded. "It's hard."

It's not every season tears well up in a coach's eyes when talking about the seniors on his or her team.

There is the personal relationship a dad has with his daughter, especially when they have shared many softball memories together that will be impossible to replace.

Then there is the remarkable softball player Aubrey has been over her four-year varsity prep career. She is arguably one of the best players to put on the black and red SPASH uniform.

Aubrey Drohner has rewritten the school's record book at the plate and in the circle. Her career numbers say it all -- she is the career leader in hits (174), RBI (175), home runs (25), doubles (44) and runs (127). Aubrey also leaves the program with single-season records for home runs (12) and RBI (52).

In the circle, she is the all-time career leader in wins with 78 — 18 more than Kelly Franks.

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SPASH senior Aubrey Drohner is looking for a new college home after de-committing from Indiana State University this spring..(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin file photo)

"She's meant so much to our program with what she's done. Thinking about what she's done (in her career). I think she thinks about what the program has done for her," coach Drohner said. "It was a hard situation for sure."

Moments after the loss to Kaukauna, she was still trying to come to grips with the season-ending loss. Her senior season, and that of her five fellow seniors, was supposed to have a storybook ending.

As if the abrupt end to the season wasn't enough, Aubrey also had to cope with the reality that this was the last time she would play softball for her dad.

"It's the last game he'll be coaching me, so it's kind of hard on me right now," said Aubrey, fighting back tears. "It's a little harder for me than maybe some others because my dad has been coaching me since I was young up until now."

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SPASH's Aubrey Drohner unloads for a home run during the WIAA Division 1 playoffs this spring. Drohner gave a verbal commitment to play softball at Division I Indiana State on Sunday.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin file photo)

Despite the pain of that final loss, though, no one can ever take any of those memories away from father or daughter.

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill